School Day: Drug Tests, Graduations & New Schools

A: The school district has hired a company to test students for drugs on a voluntary basis. Assistant Superintendent Georg Kidd says a student's parent or guardian can refer the student for testing, and students can refer themselves. The school district will pay for one test per student.

NEWPORT NEWS

Q: Has Newport News decided when graduations will take place this year?

A: Yes. High school graduations will be on June 15 and June 16 at the Hampton University Convocation Center. For more information, go to www.nnschools.org and scroll down until you see a link on the right called "2007 Graduation Dates."

ISLE OF WIGHT

Q: How much is the county spending on new schools, and when will they open?

A: Officials plan to spend $15.2 million to renovate Smithfield High School and combine it with Smithfield Middle School. They also want to spend $39 million to build a new Smithfield Middle School at a location that has yet to be determined. Work on the two schools could begin in 2012. Plans also call for construction of a new Windsor Middle School between 2011 and 2015 at a cost of $20.5 million. The dates for construction and renovations could change, depending on enrollment projections.

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